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Littleton Governing Board hears review of GATE program, staff outline expanded screening and next steps
Summary
District staff told the Littleton Governing Board the district is expanding universal screening and remediation efforts for gifted education under Arizona law, reporting that three specialists tested 40 students and 11 qualified; staff said they will test a larger cohort next and present a revised scope and sequence in spring.
The Littleton Governing Board received an update on the district’s gifted education program during its Nov. 5 meeting, as staff described recent screening results and plans to increase identification and supports for advanced learners.
Dr. Suhi Ledette, the presenter, anchored the discussion in state law, telling the board that the Exploring Potentials/GATE program operates under Arizona Revised Statute 15‑779 and the district uses universal screening (grade‑2 KOAT) to help ensure equitable identification. "Arizona Revised Statute 15‑779" was cited as the statutory basis for requiring a gifted scope and sequence and universal screening, the presentation said.
Ledette gave concrete figures from the district’s recent testing cycle: "In total, our three gifted specialists tested 40 students who met the criteria. 11 of the 40 students qualified, representing a 27.7% of those tested," she said. Staff also described the first‑round testing approach — identifying students who earned "exceeding" on the state AASA assessment in ELA, math or science for two consecutive years — and said the next round will begin the following week with roughly 136 students identified for additional testing, makeups and retests.
Board members pressed staff on practical implications. Questions focused on students who transfer into the district after the grade‑2 screening window, who was responsible for delivery of gifted services when specialists are concentrated at only three schools, and why the district has seen a decline in dedicated gifted teachers. Ledette and other staff said they will: review and correct student records, retest previously‑close cases, add more screening sessions (the state minimum is three times per year; staff said they hope to do five this year), and provide professional development so general‑education teachers can better serve identified gifted students when a specialist is not on site.
Superintendent Lefit confirmed interim service arrangements: the district’s three gifted specialists will "serve in their sister schools" one day a week to provide direct services while a longer‑term staffing and scope update is developed.
The board was told staff will present a revised gifted scope and sequence for board approval in the spring and will solicit parent and staff input through surveys and events. The district also plans to collaborate with the local high school district for advanced content opportunities and to encourage teachers to pursue gifted endorsements where feasible.
Next steps: the board expects the additional testing round to proceed, staff to return with corrected records and updated identification matrices, and a formal gifted scope and sequence to be presented to the board in spring for action.
